The ancient house of Hagaon Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz zt”l at 4 Wilkomir Street in Bnei Brak was completely demolished today to make way for the construction of a residential building on the site.
The house, located on the upper part of Wilkomir Street had been standing for over eighty years. Rav Michel Yehuda initially resided in a small wooden shack, spreading his light of Torah from there.
Rav Lefkowitz acquired this plot of land two years before the opening of Ponevezh Yeshiva, which started with just six talmidim at the time.
The house was initially a shack and was gradually transformed into a proper dwelling. When Ponevezh Yeshiva opened, the Chazon Ish told the Ponovezher Rov, “Send bochurim to sleep at Rav Michel Yehuda’s house so that he’ll have some money.” He then sent the brothers, Rav Gershon Edelstein and Rav Yaakov Edelstein, to stay at Rav Michel Yehuda’s house.
The most famous feature of the home was the esrog tree planted by Rav Michel Yehuda after he received it from the Chazon Ish.
The Chazon Ish had given Rav Michel Yehuda an envelope containing esrog seeds and told him, “Take these seeds and plant them in your backyard. Let a tree grow from them that will produce magnificent esrogim.”
Since then, many stories have revolved around the famous tree.
Today, as mentioned, Rav Michel Yehuda’s small house has been demolished and a residential building will be built in its place soon.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Thank you for posting this important information.
why?